The Israel military says air and ground troops “are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip”.
However, the IDF later clarified this statement, saying that ground operations against Palestinian militants had started but that they had not entered Gaza.
More than 16,000 reservist military personnel were called up earlier and additional ground troops were deployed to the border.
Israeli forces have not entered Gaza following a barrage of artillery and air strikes in the north of Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
Have Israeli troops actually entered the Gaza strip?
Al Jazeera and other news outlets with reporters on ground are questioning whether Israel’s military has actually entered Gaza.
Internal miscommunication early on Friday morning led to Israeli Defense Forces announcing that its air and ground troops were “attacking in the Gaza Strip.”
However, that was clarified later by the IDF that ground operations against Palestinian militants had started but that they had not entered Gaza.
On Friday local time, Israeli Defense Forces announced that its air and ground troops are “attacking in the Gaza Strip.”
Palestinians marked the first day of the Eid al-Fitr religious holiday under heated bombardment.
Gaza’s health ministry saying that 109 people, including 28 children, have been killed since the Israeli offensive began late on Monday.
IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip.
Militants in Gaza have fired more than one thousand rockets into Israel, with airlines either suspending or diverting flights over fears of planes being shot down.
At least 580 others were injured. Israel has stationed more troops and tanks near Gaza and has approved mobilizing 9,000 more reservist troops, according to AJ+
WATCH as a Hamas rocket aimed at Israel misfires and falls back into Gaza.
But this isn't the 1st time—Hamas misfired 350 rockets in the last 3 days.
These rockets result in the deaths of innocent Gazan civilians.
As the situation worsens in Gaza, tensions are also spreading throughout several Israeli cities, with Arab and Jewish citizens clashing and rioting on the streets.
“I say explicitly: we will continue to defend and continue to attack until the fire is stopped and we will ensure long-term silence,”
Israel’s Defense Minister says.
Why now?
It comes as Palestinians plead with the United Nations to live up to its responsibility and maintain international peace and security.
Hamas controls Gaza, while Fatah controls the West Bank.
Then there’s the Abraham accords signed in the final months of President Trump’s administration, where relations were normalised between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.
The situation in Gaza is at breaking point, following the UN yesterday making a stark warning that the violence may turn into a “full-scale war”.
The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the situation
The UN has warned that the violence in Gaza could escalate into a “full-scale war” after Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on Gaza and Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza on Sunday. The U.S. will continue to actively engage in diplomacy at the highest levels to try to de-escalate tensions.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) May 13, 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and says “Israel has a right to defend itself” amid a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, according to AFP.
“Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
u.s president biden
The United States dispatched a senior diplomat on Wednesday to urge Israelis and Palestinians to calm the worst flare-up in violence between them in years, says Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about the matter.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Meanwhile in Australia, Foreign Minister Marise Payne has followed the U.S lead in calling for an end to escalating violence between Israel and Gaza.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have suffered defeat in two parliamentary by-elections
UK Conservatives have lost two crucial seats in England, which could spark concerns about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s future.
The centrist Liberal Democrat party won the seats of Tiverton and Honiton.
The seats are in a Conservative part of south-west England, where a majority of 24,000 has been overturned.
The Liberal Democrats say it is their biggest ever majority turn around at a parliamentary by election.
“Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message: It’s time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now.”
winning candidate Richard Foord
The losses have renewed calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after a police investigation into gatherings at his Downing Street offices.
Johnson recently survived a vote of no-confidence, which secured his term as Prime Minister for another 12 months.
It also follows the Conservatives winning a landslide majority in three decades during the last national election.
Protesters are causing disruptions during an address by China’s Ambassador to Australia
Xiao Qian is in Sydney, where is he speaking about how to improve ties between the two countries.
One protester described Mr Xiao as a “representative of a dictatorship” and accused the Chinese Government of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims.
Others were heard shouting “Free Tibet”, and another was asked to leave the venue prior to the event because he was dressed in a military costume.
The speech was widely seen as an attempt to ease relations between the two countries.
China has put trade sanctions on Australia, while a recent encounter took place between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime aircraft over the South China Sea.
Security guards reportedly ushered the protesters.